Diagnostic description ³

Stigmaphyllon emarginatum (Cav.) A. Juss., Ann. Sci. Nat. Bot., Ii, 13: 290. 1840.

Fig. 122. D-G

Basionym: Banisteria emarginata Cav.

Synonyms: Stigmaphyllon periplocifolium (Desf.) A. Juss.

Stigmaphyllon lingulatum (Poir.) Small

Woody vine, twining, attainig 5-10 m in length. Stem up to 8 cm in diameter; much branched from the base; bark very rough, reddish brown. Branches copper-colored, glabrous, more or less cylindrical, lenticellate, the young portions strigulose. Leaves opposite, coriaceous, lanceolate, ovate, oblong, linear, or less frequently rounded, 2.5-10(13) × 1-5.5(10.5) cm, sparsely appressed-pubescent when young, glabrescent, the apex acute or obtuse, emarginate-mucronate, the base truncate or cordiform, the margins entire or undulate; upper surface shiny, with the reticulate venation prominent; lower surface pale green, dull, with the midvein prominent; petioles yellowish, flattened on the upper surface, 0.2-2 cm long, with two discoid glands in the area adjacent to the blade; stipules triangular, minute. Inflorescences of axillary umbels, corymbs, or pseudoracemes, with 15-35 flowers; peduncles pubescent, 0.2-2.5 cm long; pedicels 3-23 mm long, articulated above the base; bracts minute, eglandular. Calyx of 5 ovate-triangular sepals, 4(5) of which have a pair of glands outside at the base. Petals 5, yellow, rounded, unguiculate, 11-15 mm long; stamens unequal, glabrous or puberulent; anterior style shorter; stigmas green. Mericarps 1.6-2.2 cm long, with an asymmetrical dorsal wing, curved on the upper margin and crenate on the lower margin.

Phenology: Flowering throughout the year and fruiting from January to August.

Status: Native, very common.

Selected Specimens Examined: Acevedo-Rdgz., P. 591; 790; 992; 2017; 2897; 3965; 4042; 4355; 5206; 5366; 5439; 7081; 9307; 10536; 11218; 11228; 11430; 11473.

Distribution ⁴

Distribution: In disturbed areas and dry forests near the littoral zone. Also on Caja de Muerto, Culebra, Desecheo, Icacos, Mona, Vieques, Anegada, St. Croix, St. John, St. Thomas, Tortola, Virgin Gorda; Jamaica, Hispaniola, and the Lesser Antilles southward to Martinique.

Public Forests: Ceiba, Guánica, Maricao, Mona, Piñones, and Susúa.

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Botany, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://collections.nmnh.si.edu/services/media.php?env=botany&irn=10361286
2. (c) Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Botany, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://collections.nmnh.si.edu/services/media.php?env=botany&irn=10361285
3. (c) Pedro Acevedo-Rodríguez, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/28435427
4. (c) Pedro Acevedo-Rodríguez, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/28435889

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